Living!

Today I celebrate the heart of this nation. I celebrate the heart of humankind. I celebrate my open, vulnerable heart even though I know in my mind that it could be torn apart in an instant if I let it remain open to the world at large. Today, I wince while my open heart feels the heavy winds blowing against it, because to do otherwise would be to diminish it, ourselves, our nation, our kind, our species, our collective soul and our very existence as a collective entity. It is more important to love than to hate. It is more important to include. It is idiocy to define Us vs Them. We’re all in this life together. Today I stand with the queer, the different, the odd, the normal and everyone who ever felt unaccepted. Today I stand proud. I stand with my arms wide open. I stand tall. I stand, even though my back aches and my knees feel weak. Today I offer you my shelter, even though its roof leaks and predators lurk. Today, I promise to do what I can to keep you safe and not fall prey to fear myself. Today, I cherish you. Today, I will do at least one thing to make the world a better place. Today, I will remember that today is every day; that I am everyone, and that everything matters.